Chapter 7 #2
Luminaire was an odd word to use, given it generally meant a leading or guiding light. And did her becoming his “aunt” mean he had no family other than his father? I wanted to ask, but the darkness once again dimming the silver in his eyes suggested that would be ill-advised.
“She helped me through the tough times,” he continued, “especially when my father succumbed to his darkness. In many respects, I owe her my existence.”
Darkness? Did he mean mental darkness, or something else entirely?
“And to repay her kindness, you now help her out with certain investigations?” It was a guess, but a pretty obvious one.
He hesitated. “Yes and no. We are involved in an ongoing investigation, but I do occasionally help out with other situations that revolve around my particular skill set.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Is one of those skills the ability to answer questions without actually answering them?”
He laughed softly. “My father had what some might call ‘interesting’ contacts, especially in the latter part of his life, when the darkness was falling around him, but he still retained some sense of sanity and self. As his heir, I maintain those contacts, even if unwillingly in some respects.”
“That’s an odd thing to say.”
The smile that tugged at his lips held little humor. “I live in an odd reality.”
Another strange comment, one I once again suspected he would not explain. Not to me. Not yet.
“Why you, though, when she has an entire organization to investigate anything and anyone she might wish?”
“Because, as I said, I can walk where few others dare.”
“Such as thick gray shadows in which demons stalk?”
“I was not the only one in those shadows, Hanna, and I rather suspect I am not alone in familiarity with them.”
“And I rather suspect we are getting off topic.” The last thing I needed or wanted right now was this man guessing more about me than I was ready to give. I tapped my phone’s screen. “To repeat an earlier question, why did you send the telepath hidden by your magic in to see Tane?”
“How do you know the person I was hiding was a telepath? Are you telepathic yourself?”
“I daresay you’ve been well apprised by Sophie on what I can and can’t do.”
It was dryly said, and he smiled again. The man really did have a lovely smile. “She’s rather surprised you appear uninclined to move any higher in rank than your current position.”
“I enjoy being an investigator, and I hate paperwork. I am not my brothers. I just want to do what I do and enjoy my life. Now, answer the damn question.”
He chuckled, the sound as smooth and as warm as a whisky on a cold night. “Yes, it was a telepath, and yes, she was there to read Tane.”
“Why? What were you seeking? How is Tane linked to the investigation you’re undertaking for Sophie, and is Monica’s disappearance at all connected?”
“Are you working on the old ‘overwhelm them with questions and hope the truth falls out’ method of interviewing? Because I will never be overwhelmed by such attempts, I assure you.”
I raised an eyebrow and asked, probably unadvisably, “Then what are you overwhelmed by?”
“Women in emerald dresses that match their lovely eyes and skim their curves, promising much while revealing little.”
“Oh, very smooth.” My voice was dry but the inner me flushed with delight.
He shrugged, a small but elegant movement. “Perhaps, but it is also the truth.”
“Hmm,” was all I dared say to that.
A smile teased his lips again, but it was the subtle gleam in his eyes that caused all manner of havoc to my pulse rate. “To answer your questions: One, I wanted Tane’s memories skimmed to see if anyone had contacted him recently about the runestones—”
“Runestones?” I cut in. “Well, there’s an interesting coincidence.”
He frowned lightly. “Meaning?”
“Before I answer that, tell me, did you—or rather your telepath—order Tane to give me a USB containing a conversation about Monica between a man and a woman?”
“I did not, though Jenna noted someone had been in his mind previously and that his memories had been so messed up that she could not find the information I wanted.”
Jenna. I’d have to run a private search through the personnel records to see if we had a telepath on contract who went by that name. For research purposes, of course, not because I was in any way interested in knowing anything about the women he might have in his life....
I picked up my glass, took a drink, and tried to ignore the inner sliver of envy that rose at the thought of those women having already tasted the delights this man might offer.
“Deliberately messed up, I would think.” Meaning my thinking as much as Tane’s mind.
He nodded. “Do you still have this USB, or has it been placed into evidence?”
“I was ordered by Tane—or the person behind his receiving of it—not to give it to, or share it with anyone else. Even if I had, it wouldn’t have mattered, because it self-destructed five seconds after I finished it.”
“Someone is a fan of Mission: Impossible, obviously,” he murmured.
“Exactly what I said.”
His gaze caught mine, the sparks of silver gleaming in those sapphire depths. “Something else we have in common, then. Did the couple on the USB mention runestones in connection with Monica?”
“No, but we believe the man speaking was Luke Marlowe, a distant relative she was fucking after he made a reappearance in her life about five months ago.”
“With the intent, obviously, of getting information out of her.”
“Sex is a tried-and-true method of getting information from someone.”
Another smile, this time decidedly devilish. “When we have sex, dear Hanna, it will not be because I am wishing to gain information out of you.”
When, not if. “You’re getting a little presumptuous, aren’t you?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“Arrogant, you are.”
“A Star Wars fan too? I think I love you.”
I snorted and tried to get the conversation back on track. “Until six months ago, Luke was working at the National Archives, but was sacked for scanning a scarce and ancient tome on runestones.”
“Interesting timeline. I take it you’ve asked to view said tome?”
“Yes, though I suspect you could probably tell me more about its contents than I could ever learn by reading it.” I snagged a couple more slices of prosciutto and the delicious smoky cheese. “I’m gathering your investigation revolves around the runestones being kept by the various royal houses?”
He nodded and ate the final piece of roasted pepper. “There was a break-in recently, which resulted in the death of an elderly man—”
“That wouldn’t happen to be the incident at Glebe, would it?”
His eyebrows rose. “How do you know of it? The matter was suppressed.”
“Luke mentioned it in the USB conversation, so naturally I googled. You’re right in that nothing much came up. Not even a Society search revealed much.”
“When the royal lines wish something hidden, there are very few traces left behind.”
Didn’t I know it…. “Who was the old man?”
“Richard Kang. No relation of yours. He lived on the family estate in Sydney and had recently gained a much younger lover. He left a note before he went over the cliff, saying he was a fool blinded by lust and that he was sorry.”
“A common refrain used by old fools parted from their wealth by too-young women who swear it’s ‘love.’”
“Oof,” René said. “That’s a very unforgiving attitude. Maybe he was simply lonely.”
“Loneliness should never trump common sense.” And while I did believe that statement, I also had no doubt I’d be just as damn dumb as that old fool when it came to the man sitting opposite me. “Was it suicide or murder?”
“The latter. His mind had been wiped.”
“So he was alive when he was found?”
“Barely. His heart gave out before the medics arrived, and he could not be revived.”
Sympathy stirred. He might have been an old fool, but he didn’t deserve to die. “Do you know what the woman took?”
“I bet you can guess.”
“His family’s unrestricted runestone.” When he nodded, I added, “Do you know what type?”
“The family’s records suggests it was one part of the Lancet rune. When the three are combined, it allows the wielder to assume the form of anyone they might wish.”
I frowned. “So it gifts the shifting ability? Why would anyone go to such lengths to steal something like that?”
“It is not a matter of mere shifting. It’s a matter of utter embodiment.
The rune allows the wielder to step into their victim’s body for a limited time, utterly embracing their flesh, their knowledge and memories, and their power.
If you are a seeker of wealth or even revenge, would this not be the easiest way of gaining it? ”
“But you said it was only a temporary embodiment.”
“Twenty-four hours is enough time to steal, destroy, or kill.”
“What happens to the body they inhabit after they leave?”
“It dies. When a soul has been forced out of its flesh, a body cannot survive.”
“Unless, of course, another soul inhabits it.” I glanced up as a waitress appeared to clear the now-empty antipasti plate, thanked her, then said, “Was the old man’s rune the first of the three stolen?”
“No, second.”
“So Tane has the third?”
“Our kidnappers seem to think so.”
I frowned. “The tome doesn’t confirm it?”
“The third is listed as location unknown.”
“Then that’s what you were hoping to find in Tane’s mind? Confirmation that he did indeed hold the third piece of the Lancet rune?”
He nodded. “That, and its current location.”
I pursed my lips thoughtfully. His gaze dropped to them, and a little more heat entered his eyes.
At least I wasn’t the only one feeling this fire.
“Is it possible whoever ordered Tane to give me the USB also scrambled some of his memories to ensure that Luke, Stephan, and that woman, whoever she is, didn’t find any information about the Lancet rune? ”
“Possible, but that would imply they have a spy in their midst who is aware you are investigating Monica’s disappearance. To know that, they’d have to have connections within the Society.”